In Melbourne, where the outdoor living trend is taking off, we are increasingly seeing decks and pergolas serve functional and aesthetic purposes for residential properties. These areas give homeowners relaxing places to chill out, entertain their guests, unwind on a typical Aussie summer day, and stage a get-together or barbecue with family, friends, and mates. They provide residents with a unique Aussie lifestyle, too.
That aside, decks and pergolas significantly add to a property’s saleable real estate or saleable area. They offer a significant return on investment, so if you don’t have one for your home now, now is the right time to consider having one if you’ll be selling your home. Throughout the course of this blog post, I will share more about these two outdoor home-improvement solutions with you.
The Importance of Outdoor Living in Melbourne
Melbourne's climate is classified as temperate oceanic. Summers are mild, and winters are cool. Melbourne's climate is favorable for outdoor living. For example, Melbourne averages 2,200 hours of annual sunshine, so outdoor rooms can be used throughout the year.
Moreover, Melbourne's vibrant city culture has led to a healthy alfresco dining scene—for everything from cafes to barbeques—as well as many park and garden meetups. All these factors point to one thing: you need well-designed outdoor space to upgrade your lifestyle.
To this end, you couldn't do much better than with a standard deck and pergola. Decks and pergolas are two home additions that Melbourne residents can install for outdoor shade. Each project complements the other well. A deck is mainly for function. For instance, a multi-level deck will act as a go-between from the main house entrance to the garden. A pergola is primarily fitted for form. It looks beautiful when the climbing vines that wrap around the posts bloom during the spring. However, a pergola might also give you some protection from unnecessary weather exposure. Speak soon of our next section...
Choosing the Right Deck for Your Home
When building a deck, the first thing to decide on is the material. Should you choose timber or a composite of two other materials?
Timber decks offer a beautiful, warm, and natural look. They’re usually made from pressure-treated wood, but you can also find versions in beautiful, rich cedar and redwood. Though the cost of a timber deck can be moderate, sealing and staining might increase the price. Some homeowners will need to seal and stain their decks seasonally to keep rot and weathering from settling into the wood.
Composite decks are made from a combination of wood fibres and several species of plastic. They’re known for their incredible durability. Most decks in this category are considered very low-maintenance. They’re known for resisting splinters and their nearly endless amount of fade-resistant colours and finishes.
Size is the second most important consideration in deck design. Will the deck be an appropriate fit for your home and yard? How much room should you use?
Depending on the size of a deck, adding other features might be possible. These can include railings, lights, and built-in benches. Creating any design — whether modern, simple, tranquil, chic, or peaceful — is also possible.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
For those do-it-yourselfers, a DIY deck and pergola can be incredibly rewarding and provide a sense of satisfaction and pride in your work upon completion of your project. And there can be cost savings when building the pergola yourself. As an added benefit, DIY plans can be customized to your preferences and style.
The downside is the potential risk of errors — safety errors and unsound construction that can cause serious accidents, unnecessary wear or damage, or errors leading to a relatively short lifecycle and costly fixes and repairs. And, adverse to appearance, the time commitment is high. The effort isn’t light either.
Hiring a professional actually entitles you to a standard of quality. This means a pergola should be built properly by following local building codes. While cost can be high, the cost is relative. For some, the higher figure is just too much out of pocket. But for others, it's not the price that matters, but the product.
Just a small investment in these areas could lead to an immediate return on your sale price and benefit your way of life. These could have an exponential effect on your way of life because of the outdoor area they create.
Sausages are just the start. You could even run the activities you want to do in this area and how you can make use of the area for your home. Try to do your research online and talk to a professional about the different ideas related to this.